Children of God

Joshua 5:9a, 10-12, Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7. 

2 Corinthians 5:17-21, LK15:1-3,11-32

Again sharing a little homily with you all. Today on the fourth Sunday of Lent. We have heard in the first reading from the book of Joshua, how God continues to affirm his covenant with the people. He will no longer give them manna from heaven, it is true, but neither he will leave them without food. In the second reading we hear a St. Paul speaking to us of a new life, a life renewed in Jesus. That therefore, everything we do is also new. But also St. Paul invites us to reconcile with Jesus, asking us to really leave those fears aside to return to the one who first loved us. And finally in the Gospel of Luke, we hear the parable of the prodigal son. Luke shares this story as a great example of God reconciling himself with each one of us as his children.

Reading and meditating on these readings, I thought that in the parable of the prodigal son we hear the son who is now far from his father say. ‘I am going hungry’. His first instinct to return was not to repent, not to mend his relationship with his father, not perhaps to feel remorse for having squandered his fortune or for having left his home. He was simply hungry and wanted to return to the place where his father could give him something more to eat even if he was not welcomed as his son. The son decided to go to his father, on the way he practises his speech, he tries to memorise it, he tries to find the right words to ask for forgiveness, so that his father believes him, forgives him and accepts him.

Now on the way he reflects on what he has done and knows that he is not worthy to be called son again by his father. He no longer thought about whether his father would accept him as his son, he only thought about returning to his father's place. The encounter could not have been more emotional, the son having forgotten the hunger that drove him to return. Now he feels repentant and says the words he has been practicing on the way, but his father does not let him finish his speech, he hugs him, loves him, kisses him and asks to be treated as his son, his joy does not fit in his heart. The son had thought he would be treated as a servant, because he had forgotten his place as a son. But his father had not forgotten his place as a father and he had not forgotten that he is his son and the great love for him.

And perhaps we can think that the father's attitude was unfair to the other son who was always loyal. However, knowing the father, we would know that he would do the same for him. That his love is the same for the one who is faithful and just, as it is for him to lose himself for a moment. His love knows no bounds for his children and even if the son doesn't understand it, that is the nature of the father. The only thing the father understands is to love and that love always translates into forgiveness. Some time ago when I was still in Mexico, I was talking to my cousin about a similar situation and she said to me, I don't understand that father's love. And I just limited myself to say. Is there anything that a loving father won't forgive his son for?

The same as we have read and heard today. It is the same that God invites us to live. The readings today spoke to us about returning and being reconciled with God. To leave behind that past and return to him, to live again that dignity that we have as children of God, to know that we have a place at his table, that despite the years of distance from him, we have a place at his table. God will always be waiting for us with open arms, he will not need our grandiose speeches, he will only embrace and comfort us. As a man who has made many mistakes and failed to

God many times, I have experienced God's great love and mercy for me.

Therefore, let us not live far from this great gift of God's love, forgiveness, mercy and most importantly our place as children of God. Finally wishing that we all get up and go back to the father, even if our first intentions are not clear. God will receive them and forgive us. Let us live always open to God's mercy and never forget our place as his children. I wish you a good Sunday and greetings in Christ, the missionary of the Father.